Indigenous Climate Action Grants

Applications for the Indigenous Climate Action Grants are now closed and will re-open in 2025.

The Indigenous Climate Action Grant is a program created to support the implementation of the City’s Transform TO NetZero Strategy (2021.IE26.16), which set an ambitious target to reduce community-wide emissions in Toronto to net zero by 2040. As part of the Strategy, the City is committed to working with Indigenous rights holders and urban Indigenous communities to share knowledge and learnings.

In 2022, The City of Toronto launched the Reconciliation Action Plan that acknowledges and affirms that the city resides on lands and waters that have been occupied and stewarded by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Indigenous climate action is led by Indigenous Knowledge Holders, water protectors, land defenders, and food security advocates from across Turtle Island. The Indigenous Climate Action Grant program encourages the Indigenous community to determine what climate action is needed and to take meaningful action to reduce emissions and realize the co-benefits of a healthy, thriving, and equitable city.

Funding Stream 1: Up to $10,000 per project Funding Stream 2: Up to $20,000 per project
  • Indigenous-led grassroots groups (two or more people) and collectives, individuals/community projects
  • Indigenous-led grassroots collectives who have a bank account in the name of the collective and/or have a trustee
  • Non-profit initiatives/organizations that have an Indigenous project lead(s) directly leading project development and implementation.

Indigenous individuals, Indigenous-led grassroots groups with community projects and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply. Non-Indigenous non-profits are eligible, but must have an Indigenous project lead, an Indigenous council to guide the project and the project must serve the Indigenous community.

  • Groups must have at least 50 per cent leadership who are First Nations, Inuit or Métis.
  • Applicants must reside in Toronto (M postal code).
  • Grantees can only receive funding once per calendar year.
  • Grassroots groups or collectives must have a bank account in their group name to receive the funds or have a trustee (see the Trustee tab below for more information). Micro-grants under $10,000 are excepted from this rule.
  • Grantees must review and sign the Declaration of Compliance of Anti-Harassment/Discrimination City Policy .

Non-Eligibility

  • Groups, collectives or community projects cannot operate on a for-profit basis.
  • Funds cannot be used for fundraising events, donations to charitable, political or religious organizations, or debt repayment/deficit funding.

Examples of possible projects include:

  • Indigenous place-making projects that promote food security, the growing of traditional medicines and/or ecological biodiversity
  • Educational activities, events, and workshops including cultural activities
  • Initiatives that promote waste reduction (i.e. upcycling workshops, etc.)
  • Renewable energy projects for community spaces
  • Intergenerational teaching activities, especially those that promote cultural and/or land-based learning opportunities for youth
  • Place-making initiatives including public art displays that promote Indigenous climate justice
  • Water preservation education and/or public events that support healthy water systems including water walks, ceremonies, etc.
  • Active transportation initiatives, such as bike mechanic workshops for the 2SLGBTQ+ community or ride to work campaigns for Indigenous women, 2S+ and girls
  • Other activities that contribute to the objectives of the Indigenous Climate Action Grant program

Rolling submissions open: May 13, 2024

Information Session: May 22, 2024

First Application Deadline: June 24, 2024

Second Application Deadline: September 20, 2024

Projects Begin: Summer 2024 or later

Project Completion, Report Submission and Evaluation: By November 2025

Please contact us for support in developing your idea, networking with community members, or book a visioning session to help turn your climate action dream into a reality. If you have received City of Toronto funding previously, please reach out to us before filling out your application. All questions are welcome! Please contact Miranda.Black@toronto.ca.

Notice of Collection

The City of Toronto (Environment and Climate Division) collects personal information in this application under the legal authority of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, section 83 and Item IE26.16, City Council Decision 1, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 1110-2021.

The City will utilize this information for the purposes of administering the Indigenous Climate Action Grants program, including: the consideration and evaluation of applications; communication with grant applications, selection of grant recipients, processing and entering into grant agreements with successful applicants as required, as well as monitoring and ensuring on-going compliance of grant recipients with the terms and eligibility of the Indigenous Climate Action Grants program.
For any questions regarding this collection, please contact: Project Lead – Indigenous, Outreach and Engagement, Environment and Climate Division, USEW-2 C/O Metro Hall, 2nd Floor, 55 John Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6 437-221-7343

Photo of Indigenous Climate Action Grants review committee members.

We would like to thank our 2023 Review Committee. Miigwetch and Nya:wen,

Elder, Vivian Recollet, Turtle Clan from Wikwemikong unceded territory;

Maria Simonelli, Brunswick House FN, Oji-Cree and Italian descent, Community Leader;

Crystal Sinclair, Nehiyaw, Member of Fisher River Cree Nation, Community Leader;

Shar-Dey Phillips-Walker, Lac Seul First Nation, Community Leader;

Zephyr McKenna, Munsee Delaware First Nation and Alderville First Nation, Indigenous Youth;

Samuel Wong, Metis with family roots in Calahoo, St. Albert and Lac St. Anne AB, Indigenous Youth; and

Lyla Hatt, Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik and Mixed Ancestry, Indigenous Youth.

 

For 2024, our review committee is devised of members of the Indigenous Community who have been selected to review grants for the Indigenous Climate Action Grants based on the following considerations:

  • Is First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis
  • Has lived experience and/or experience working within Toronto’s Indigenous Community
  • Is actively involved within the Indigenous Community and is recognized by other Indigenous Community members as such
  • Has an understanding of the Indigenous Climate Action Grants process
  • Has an interest in working with the City of Toronto to ensure the success of the Indigenous Climate Action Grants program
  • Diversity of age, gender and Nationhoods to ensure representation of many Indigenous Nations who live in Toronto

What is a Trustee?

A trustee is an incorporated not-for-profit organization with audited financial statements and the financial systems in place to administer grant funds.

A trustee will distribute the funding according to the approved project budget. Trustees may also provide additional support to funded projects, such as project management and mentorship. Non-profit applicants in Stream 2 can act as their own trustee, provided they fulfill all the requirements listed below.

Eligible Trustee Organizations

Trustee organizations must meet all of the following eligibility criteria and be approved by City staff to act as your trustee:

  • Agree to take responsibility for the management of financial and project activities proposed by the applicant organization; and
  • Report on the use of grant funds to the City and maintain documentation for audit purposes.
  • Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization with recent audited financial statements;
  • Demonstrate effective management and administrative capacity;
  • Be based in the city of Toronto (head office must be located in Toronto and a majority of programs and services are located in Toronto) or be an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization;
  • Have existed for at least one year;
  • Be in good standing with the City of Toronto (up to date on all requirements for City funds the organization may have received in the past);
  • Collaborate with other service providers and community groups;
  • Demonstrate a clear separation between religious and community service functions (if religious activities are provided by the organization);
  • Comply with the City of Toronto Anti-racism, Access and Equity Policy;
  • Have a service mandate related to the funded project.

Roles & Expectations of the Trustee

The trustee organization:

  • Holds financial authority and a position of trust and responsibility for the project grant funds;
  • Maintains proper fiscal oversight including using their existing financial systems and policies when dispersing the grant funds to your group (i.e. petty cash disbursements, honoraria, invoice payment, expense reimbursements etc.);
  • Has overall legal responsibility for the grant funds;
  • Provides assurance that all funding received will be spent only for the purposes outlined in the Trustee Agreement and in the Letter of Understanding and according to the approved project budget;
  • Acts as the project’s financial and administrative manager for the duration of your project;
  • Ensures compliance with accountability and legislative requirements; and
  • Signs the Letter of Understanding issued by the City with the grant recipient group. The Letter of Understanding outlines the terms and conditions of the grant funding.

Trustee Fees

Trustee organizations may charge fees for their services. Fees of up to 15 per cent of the total project funding are eligible for funding